Abstracts |
The objective of this work was to study the effect of inoculation with Glomus
mosseae, G. Diaphanum or G. Etunicatum on the rooting and growth of beach plum cuttings. Among
these three AM fungi, the highest percentage rooting (58.6% for hardwood cuttings; 40.2% for
softwood cuttings), the maximum number of lateral fine roots (27.4% for hardwood cuttings; 18.5%
for softwood cuttings), the greatest dry weights (DWs) of roots (0.264 g for hardwood cuttings;
0.178 g for softwood cuttings), the greatest DWs of shoots (4.57 g for hardwood cuttings; 3.08g
for softwood cuttings), heights of cuttings (61.3 cm for hardwood cuttings; 58.4 cm for softwood
cuttings), and the largest total leaf areas of cuttings (1,010.9 cm(2) for hardwood cuttings;
689.4 cm(2) for softwood cuttings) were observed following inoculation. With G mosseae. The
greatest root lengths were observed after inoculation with G etunicaturn (19.7 cm for hardwood
cuttings; 16.2 cm, for softwood cuttings). Except for the numbers of primary root generated, G
mosseae and G etunicatum inoculations were significantly better than the controls in all
parameters studied. As for numbers of primary roots, inoculation with AM fungi gave values close
to the controls. Greater uptakes of macronutrients (P, K, Mg, and Ca) and micronutrients (Mn, Cu,
Zn and B) were observed in beach plum 80 d after inoculation with each of the three Glomus
species than in controls. Among the three Glomus species, G mosseae was the most effective, G.
Etunicatum was next, and G diaphanum gave macronutrient uptake values close to the controls. The
percentages of root colonisation (59.46% for hardwood cuttings; 45.32% for softwood cuttings),
and AM fungal spore counts (145.32 spores 25 g(-1) for hardwood cuttings; 123.24 spores 25 g(-1)
for softwood cuttings) were highest in cuttings inoculated with G. Mosseae. This study showed the
beneficial effects of inoculation with each of the three Glomus fungi, especially G. Mosseae and
G. Etunicatum, on inducing rooting and growth in beach plum cuttings. In addition, hardwood
cuttings responded better to inoculation with AM fungi than softwood cuttings. |